Barriers and drivers of psychosocial risk assessments in German micro and small-sized enterprises: a qualitative study with owners and managers

Peter Angerer,Valeria Pavlista,Mathias Diebig

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-11416-1

Abstract

BackgroundThe negative effect of unfavorable working conditions and long-term work stress on health has been demonstrated in previous research. To address these challenges, systematic approaches such as psychosocial risk assessments (PRA) have been developed in many countries worldwide. Despite legal obligations, psychosocial risk assessments are rarely carried out in micro and small-sized enterprises (MSE). Even though those enterprises constitute a large proportion of the general workforce, this area remains largely untouched by research. In order to enable starting points for a greater dissemination in organizational practice, the present study explores barriers and drivers of psychosocial risk assessments in micro and small-sized enterprises.MethodsA total of 18 owners and managers from 15 micro and small-sized enterprises in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany, were interviewed. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. A qualitative approach was applied: Content analysis was used to analyze the data, using deductive as well as inductive coding techniques.ResultsThe following barriers emerged from the interviews: Negative PRA image, stigmatization of mental health, lacking acceptance of employees, fear of excessive authority interference, ignorance of PRA, not understanding the necessity, inappropriate approach, and limited resources. The identified drivers were: Easy access to PRA material, external support from experts, renaming the term “workplace risk assessment”, understanding content and benefit of PRA, simplify and revise PRA process, and noticeable consequences of PRA execution and non-execution. The results are comparable with those in larger companies. They emphasize the importance of mental health education, improving the process of psychosocial risk assessments, and the ongoing support in overcoming limited financial as well as human resources.ConclusionsTo improve implementation of PRA in organizational practice, a simplification of the process is proposed, accompanied by information campaigns and an improvement in the health literacy of owners and managers of MSE. In view of the results, the full revision of the PRA approach should also be considered.

Highlights

The negative effect of unfavorable working conditions and long-term work stress on health has been demonstrated in previous research
In total, eight barriers and six drivers of psychosocial risk assessments (PRA) implementation in micro and small-sized enterprises (MSE) emerged from the data; see Fig. 1 for a graphic illustration
The Results section is supported by literal quotes (LQ) in the text that refer to the corresponding quotes listed in additional file 3

Summary

Introduction

The negative effect of unfavorable working conditions and long-term work stress on health has been demonstrated in previous research To address these challenges, systematic approaches such as psychosocial risk assessments (PRA) have been developed in many countries worldwide. Various efforts have been made to find ways for reducing the impact of work stress on an occupational level Systematic approaches such as Workplace Risk Assessments (WRA) were developed as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) interventions, and are nowadays required for employers in many countries – sometimes legally binding, sometimes not [6]. Aside from work stress, psychosocial stress may result from emotional distress, job insecurity, or harassment at work [8] Increased work demands, such as time pressure or high workload, can lead to unfavorable shifts in worklife balance [8, 9]. To grasp a multitude of factors and their combined occurrence, in order to understand and improve the situation

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